Sheriff: Men seen in SC were likely not escaped Ga. inmates

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office, S.C. said that two men seen at a rest stop in that area were likely not two dangerous escaped inmates from Georgia.

According to Jasper County Sheriff Chris Malphus, two men matching the descriptions of two escapees wanted in the death of two corrections officers' were spotted in Switzerland, S.C. at a rest area near Interstate 95 mile marker 17 around lunch time.

A truck driver said that he saw two men wearing black shirts and camouflage pants who looked like they might be trying to steal vehicles. He said one of the men did have tattoos on his face. The men reportedly ran into the woods.

Authorities responded to the scene, but Malphus said that his crews had not yet been able to confirm the sighting. Malphus said that in addition to the truck driver, a work crew also saw two men.

However, the sheriff's office later posted an message saying, "After in depth search and interviews with the original callers it has been determined that the subjects were more than likely not the subjects wanted out of Georgia. Search operations have been suspended."

A statewide-turned-nationwide manhunt has been underway since Tuesday, when authorities say Ricky Dubose and Donnie Russell Rowe who were being transported on a Georgia Department of Corrections bus filled with 33 prisoners, overpowered and killed two officers and fled.

Dubose and Rowe then stole the Honda Civic of a man who happened upon the scene and fled. Hours later, authorities said the two broke into a home in Madison and stole clothes and food.

Sometime that night, a white F-250 was stolen in the Seven Islands Road area of Morgan County. The vehicle is described as a 2008, two-door model with silver tool boxes on both side rails. The Georgia license plate is BCX5372.